Detonator



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Patented Felz.4 9,: 1960 nEToNAToR William D. Crozier, Albuquerque, N.Mex., assignor to the United States of America as represented by theSecretary of the Navy Application December 27, 1945, Serial No. 637,429

` 4 Claims. (Cl. 102-75) This invention relates to detonators formissiles and more particularly to an improved post-impact detonator forprojectiles.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved and easilymanufacturable detonator which operates after cessation of impact of aprojectile with a target and causes the projectile to explode after ithas passed into or directly behind the target.

Another object of the invention is to provide a postimpact detonatoremploying simple and efficient means for preventing premature operationthereof.

For a better understanding of the present invention together with otherand further objects thereof, reference is made to the followingspecification taken in conjunction with the appended claims and theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a preferred embodiment ofdetonator in accordance with my inven tion, the view being taken on line1-1 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1 andlooking in the direction of the arrows at the ends of said line.

. Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a portion ofthe nose of an ordnance projectile. This portion is formed with an axialrecess 2 therein, the recess being enlarged to define a shoulder 3.Mounted in the enlarged portion of the recess and having its innermargin abutting the shoulder 3 is a primer plug 4, which carries aconventional primer 5. The forward or inner end of the primer is incommunication with the interior of the recess through an axiallydisposed opening 6. The outer or rear end of the primer is incommunication with a rearwardly-located auxiliary detonator (not shown)through an apertured primer-anchoring ring 7. This ring is staked inplace. The primer plug 4 is screwed into the position illustrated inFig. 1. l

The firing pin 13 of my detonator is initially prevented from comingintocontact with the primer 5 by a segmented spring locking sleeve 8.The spring segments are arranged collectively in a generally cylindricalfashion and therefore are referred to in aggregate as the lockingsleeve. Formed on the exterior of the sleeve is a flange 9 defining ashoulder 10. Rearwardly the sleeve is thickened at 11 to define aninclined shoulder 12. Shoulder 12 abuts a complementary shoulder 16 ofthe iiring pin 13, initially to maintain the latter in a safe positionout of Contact with primer 5. Moreover, in this position the segments ofa detent 28 frictionally embrace sleeve 8 and restrain movement thereof.

The generally cylindrical ring pin 13 is positioned concentricallywithin the segmented locking sleeve. The ring pin has a head 14, formedwith an axially and centrally located pointed nib 15. The firing pinalso has a tapered or frusto-conical inclined rear edge portion 16 whichinitially abuts the complementary inclined shoulder 12. The tiring pin13 is reduced in diameter forwardly (forwardly being in the direction ofght of the projectile) `of the head 14 to define a guide stem 17 and ashoulderlS. In order to drive the tiring pin into the primer,percussively to fire the latter, there is provided a helical spring 19.This spring is concentrically disposed on stem 17 and conned betweenshoulder 18 and the forward wall 33 of the recess 2.

Thus it will be seen that when the locking sleeve 8 is in the positionshown in Fig. 1 complementary surfaces 12 and 16 are maintained incontact and radial expansion of sleeve 8 is prevented by a retainingsleeve 20. This is a generally cylindrical sleeve. This sleeve isprovided with a thickened forward end portion 21. Formed in that portionis an annular groove l22, which receives a circular snap spring 23, thepurpose of which is hereinafter indicated.

A cylindrical housing 24 slidably embraces the retaining sleeve 20. Thediameter of the housing is such that it snugly fits within recess 2 andits length is such that it `terminates short of the front wall of therecess. The 'housing 24 is longitudinally shorter than the lockingsleeve, so that an annular chamber 25 is defined at the front end of therecess. Formed in the interior of the 'housing 24 and at its front endis an annular depression A26 defining a shoulder 27.

Means must be provided for preventing retaining sleeve 20 from movingforward if the detonator is dropped or carelessly handled. If such meanswere not provided the `retaining sleeve 20 might clear shoulder 10 andpermit flange portions 9 of locking sleeve 8 to spring radiallyoutwardly, so that biasing spring 19 would drive firing pin 13 intoprimer 5 and cause undesired detonation of the projectile. To preventsuch premature shifting of the parts of my improved detonator, I providesegmented detent 28, positioned in chamber 25 in such manner that itssegments longitudinally overlie substantial portions of `the forward endof housing 24 and retaining sleeve 20. The segments of this detent arenormally held in contact by a band spring 29. As indicated above, thesesegments also frictionally restrain movement of sleeve 8.

Should a projectile containing a detonator in accordance with myinvention be dropped or otherwise carelessly handled segments 28 preventhousing 24 and retaining sleeve 20 from moving forwardly and retainingsleeve 20 confines flange 9, so that the locking sleeve 8 preventsfiring pin 13 from striking primer 5. In this manner the detonator isrendered bore safe. When the projectile is fired from a gun, however,and travels in the direction indicated by the single long arrow in Fig.1, centrifugal force accompanying projectile spin causes separation ofthe segments of detent 28 against the compression of spring 29 and thesegments radially clear the forward end of the retaining sleeve 20.However, the segments of detent 28 continue to prevent forward movementof housing 24.

The operation of my improved detonator is such that it remains in a safecondition until cessation of the forces of impact on a target. When theprojectile strikes a target, the retainer sleeve 20 and the lockingsleeve 8 are driven forwardly by their inertia into contact with thefront wall 33 of the recess 2. As indicated above, the housing 24 isheld against forward longitudinal displacement by the segments of detent28. After cessation of the forces of impact spring 19 urges firing pin13 rearwardly. Shoulder 12 urges shoulder 16 rearwardly so that lockingsleeve 8 is also pushed aft. Flange 9 is pressing radially outwardlyagainst retaining sleeve 20, so that the latter is likewise impelledrearwardly. However, rearward travel of retaining sleeve 20 is preventedby the snapping of the spring 23 into the annular depression 26. Therear end of the retaining sleeve 20 therefore does not strike plug 4 butstops at the point shown by the dotted line 30. The rear end portion ofthe interor.. surface of housing, 2i# and the forward wall of plug 4then cooperate to dene a, recess. 3,1. Locking sleeve 8 continues tomove rearwardly under the influence of spring 19 and the camming actionof shoulder 16 against Shoulder lf2` Causesthe flange portions.utosplead radially` outwardly into recess 3.1. Spring 19,1then forcesfiringV pin 13 yin to primer 5 and detonation of the. Projectile occurs.

While there has been shown what is` at present considered to be apreferredembodiment of the present invention, it will be obvious tothoseskilled in the art that various changes and` modifications may bemade therein without departing from the true scope of the invention, andit is accordingly, intended in the appended claims to cover all suchchanges and modications as fall within the true scope of the inventionand without that of the prior art.

I claim:

l. In a detonator for a riiled ordnance missileand which includes astriker member and a percussion primer member, means urging said memberstoward one another, a radially expansible housing, one of said membersbeing slidable within said housing, means coacting with said housing to`limit the extent of said sliding, said housing having also an outwardlyextending flange, means enclosing said flange and thereby preventingexpansion of the housing, said last-named means being mounted to becapable of relative shifting in the direction of travel of the missile,whereby its own inertia will cause such shift to occur duringdeceleration of the missile, latching means normally preventing theshift, said latching means being capable of radially-outward yield inresponse to centrifugal force when the missile spins, to release theenclosing means which then moves forward withv the housing, and meansfor holding said enclosing means in its fo1ward position after thedeceleration ceases, whereupon the means that urges the striker membertoward the primermember will move the housing to a position wherein theouter flange thereof is free to expand and then release the said urgingmeans.

2. In adetonator for a ried ordnance missile and which includes a.striker member and a percussion primer member, means urging said memberstoward one another, a radially expansible housing, one of said membersbeing slidable within said housing, a ange on said housing projectingradially inwards and limiting the extent of said sliding, saidhousinghaving also an outwardly eX- tending flange, a sleeve enclosing saidhousing llange and thereby preventing expansion of the housing, saidsleeve being mounted to be capable of relative shifting in the directionof travel of the missile, whereby its own inertia will cause such shiftto occur during deceleration oi the missile, latching means normallypreventing the shift, said latching means being capable ofradially-outward yield in response to centrifugal force when the missilespins, to release the sleeve, which then moves forward with the housing,and means for holding said sleeve in its forward position after thedeceleration ceases, whereupon lthe means that urges the striker membertoward the primer member will move the housing to a f position whereinthe outer ange thereof is free to expand and then release the saidurging means.

3. In a detonator for a ried ordnance missile and which includes astrikervmernber and a percussion primer member, a spring urging saidmembers toward one another, a radially expansible housing, one of saidmembers being slidable within said housing, a flange on said housingprojecting radially inwards and limiting the extent of said sliding,said housing having also an outwardly extending ilange, a sleeveenclosing said housing flange and thereby preventing expansion of thehousing, said sleeve being mounted to be capable of relative shifting inthe direction of travel of the missile, whereby its own inertia willcause such shift to occur during deceleration of the missile, latchingmeans normally preventing the shift, said. latching meansl being capableof radially-outward yield` in response to centrifugal force when themissile spins, to release the sleeve, which then` moves forward with.the housing, and means` for holding said sleeve in yits forward positionafter the deceleration ceases, whereupon the spring will move thehousing to a position wherein the outer flange thereof isfree to expandand then release the said spring.

4. In a. detonator for a riiled` ordnance missile and which includes astriker member and a percussion primer member, means. urging saidmembers toward one another, aradially expansible housing, one of saidmembers being slidable within said housing, a ilange on said housingkprojecting radially inwards and limitingthe extent of said'sliding, saidhousingrhaving also an outwardly extending flange, means enclosing saidhousing ilange and thereby! preventing expansion of the housing, saidlast-namedmeans being mounted to be capable of relative shiftingl in thedirection of travel of the missile,Av whereby its own inertia will causesuch shift to occur during deceleration of the missile, latching meansnormally preventing the shift, said latching means being capable ofradially-outward yield in response to centrifugal force when the missilespins, to release the enclosing means which then moves forward with thehousing, and means for holding said enclosing means in its forwardposition after. the deceleration ceases, whereupon the means that urgesthe striker member toward the primer member will move the housing to aVposition wherein the outer ange thereof is free to expand and thenrelease the said urging means.

References yCited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,309,763k Newelll July l5, 1919 1,549,763 Greenwell ..-g Aug, 18, 1925FOREIGNPATENTS 769,602 Francek June 11, 1934

